I Love You Teacher Ana!

I was on training yesterday and so my kids didn't see me in school. I did tell them about it and so they didn't really look for me. However, when I came back this morning, one of my K1 kids, Bing Heng, handed over a paper to me. I cannot explain how happy he was as he handed to me this little piece of paper which had the sweetest thing in the world written on it. It says, I love you Teacher Ana! As I said thank you to him out loud, he was just so thrilled and was jumping around telling everybody that he gave me a letter.

Now, I tell you as a teacher, it is such joy to feel loved by my students. And these simple letters or "presents" as some of my kids say are treasures to me. I actually received quite few almost everyday and yet I will never get tired of accepting it with gratefulness in my heart. I always show my kids that their teacher will never ever reject any of their work in any way because I love them and I want them to believe in themselves. I want them to know that their efforts are all good and I that I appreciate them.

Can you just imagine how Bing Heng for example would have reacted if I ignored his letter or if I just simply received it without even looking at it? He prepared for it way before I came to school and he kept it in his pocket and was really waiting for me to arrive.My gosh, I would have surely broke his heart if I ignored it or told him I'm busy. I will never let that happen.

I wish, all teachers and parents would also realize this fact: Kids want to be appreciated and loved! They need us to stop and listen to them when they want to say something. They need us to look and see their works. They need us to hug and kiss them. They need us to assure them that they are good and that everything will be okay.

When my kids say and tell me that they love me, I feel encouraged! It gives me a different kind of energy that I need to survive the day, to teach more and give my best. It tells me that I AM DOING GOOD and THAT ALL EFFORTS ARE NOT PUT INTO WASTE because my children, other than knowing their abc's and numbers know HOW TO SHOW THAT THEY LOVE AND CARE.